The budget session of the UP Assembly beginning from Friday is all set to be a noisy one with the opposition preparing to take on the government for its failure on various fronts.

Since this is the first session of this year, Governor BL Joshi will set it rolling by addressing a joint session of both the Houses of the state legislature on the opening day. However, in the face of angry posture adopted by the opposition, the governor may not find his task easy. And this is not for the first time.

In fact, the joint address by the governor of both the Houses has been reduced to a customary practice, as the opposition had forced the successive governors in the past to beat a hasty retreat in the face of pandemonium and ruckus created on the floor of the House.

However, for better co-ordination between the members of the treasury bench and the opposition, speaker Sukhdeo Rajbhar on Thursday held an all party meeting in which he had sought the co-operation of all the parties for the peaceful conduct of the House. He fervently appealed to all to give positive contribution to the proceedings of the House and assured them of his full protection and patronage.

The meeting was attended among others by chief minister Mayawati and leaders of different political parties. Late in the evening, the CM also held a dinner for all legislators.

While the business advisory committee (BAC) of the House is scheduled to meet again on Friday to discuss the agenda of the House. Tentatively, the House will have a total 17 sittings from February 4 to March 1. The state budget is slated to be tabled before the House on February 8 and due to be taken up for adoption though voting in the House on February 21. The departmental grants will be taken up from February 22 to 24. The appropriation bill will be taken up on March 1. Prior to this, a two-day debate would be held on the governor's address on February 9 and 10 and the budget will be taken for discussion on February 14 and 15.

While there will be no sittings on each Saturday and Sunday falling in between, the House will also have holiday on the occasion of Eid on February 16.

However, the agenda of the House is most likely to be changed again and this will be decided by the BAC at its meeting to be held on Friday. There is also possibility that the House might have truncated sittings.